New Delhi: India-Pakistan’s former Hriyat chairman and advocate to resolve Kashmir dispute, Professor Abdul Ghani Bhatdied Wednesday in Sopore. He is 89 years old.
According to family members, Bart was recently unwell and “died peacefully at his residence.” Official sources said the government advised the family to “conclude the final ceremony on Wednesday night.”
Hurriyat Chairman Mirwaiz Umar Farooq and other colleagues at Srinagar are not allowed to visit Sopore, Hindu explain.
It is easy to describe each crisis and its solution in classical Polish language, Bhat is one of the few leaders in Kashmir’s occupation, whose political career spans mainstream electoral politics in search of the ultimate solution to the Kashmir problem.
He quit his job as a journalist to join politics, and he co-founded the Muslim United Team (MUF) in the 1987 election. Later, he became the magazine of at least 13 anti-Indian groups in the 1990s, became the chairman of Hurriyat, and guided Kashmir politics for many years in the 1990s.
Favorite talks with Islamabad
Bhat is a staunch advocate of negotiations with Delhi and Islamabad about Kashmir and is one of the few leaders of the Kashmiris who in 2004 had a public act with the then Prime Minister and BJP leader LK Advani and clicked on the photo with him.
After meeting with Mr Advani, his remarks were both criticized and praised. “The peace process should be progressive. Guns should be replaced by political negotiations,” Bart said after the conversation.
He continues to attract Pakistani and Indian interlocutors to promote structured negotiations on Kashmir.
Resolution called UN “not applicable”
In 2017, Bhat served as chairman of the Muslim Conference to meet with Dineshwar Sharma, the Special Representative of Delhi, and expressed his willingness to speak with New Delhi.
He had previously faced the highest criticism from the Hurriyat leader in 2012 because he said: “United Nations resolution on Kashmir is not applicable and it is time to develop a common minimum plan with mainstream parties”.
He is also one of the few leaders who have maintained healthy relationships with leaders like Mufti, the founder of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP).
Bhat is a close friend and assistant to Chairman Hurriyat Mirwaiz Umar Farooq.
Mirwaz said: “I lost a affectionate elder, a dear friend and colleague. A huge personal loss. Kashmir lost one of a sincere and visionary leader.”
Mehbooba Mufti, president of PDP, expressed his condolences, saying: “I feel deeply sad. He is a voice of moderation, a estimation scholar, teacher and intellectual in the turbulent history of Kashmir, and has a pragmatic political approach.
Omar Abdullah, vice president of the National Conference and chief minister of J&K, said he “was sad to hear the demise of Abdul Ghani Bhat SB SB SB, a senior political leader and academician professor of the Academician.”
“Our political ideology is separate, but I will always remember him as a very civil person. When many people think violence is the only way forward, he has the courage to support the cause of dialogue, which led to him with the then PM Vajpayee ji and Pm vajpayee ji and vajjpayee ji and Pm devani ji.
Posted in Dawn on September 18, 2025
